Palestinian ambassador to Czech Rep injured in explosion dies

PRAGUE, January 1 (Itar-Tass) - The Palestinian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Jamal Muhammad Jamal, who was injured as a result of an explosion in his flat in Prague on Wednesday, January 1, has died, police said.

The explosion occurred in the ambassador’s flat in the prestigious district Prague-6 where many foreign embassies and missions are located. The ambassador himself and members of his family were in the flat at the time of the explosion.

Earlier in the day, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Embassy said that the ambassador’s life was not in danger.

“Mr Ambassador received injuries but they do not put his life at risk,” he said.

However medics at the city’s military hospital, where the diplomat had been admitted, said his condition was “critical.”

According to preliminary information, the explosion in the diplomat’s flat was not a terrorist act. Local mass media say that it might have been a spontaneous explosion of a smoke-puff charge kept in a safe. As a result of the explosion, the 56-year-old diplomat received hand and leg injuries and burns and was put to medication-induced sleep.

His 52-year-old woman relative, who was in the flat at the time of the incident, was also injured.

Jamal Muhammad Jamal became Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic in October 2013 when he presented his credentials to Czech President Milos Zeman.